Short Communication: A Descriptive Analysis of Dried Blood Spot Adherence Testing Among Ugandans with HIV Presenting with Cryptococcal Meningitis.

ABSTRACT: Early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation after cryptococcal meningitis increases mortality, and those unmasking cryptococcosis after <2 weeks of ART have higher mortality. However, it is unknown if those presenting as ART experienced are actually adherent to their ART. Unknowingly, restarting ART in persons, who have discontinued ART, may be a fatal iatrogenic error. To evaluate ART adherence in an exploratory analysis, we collected dried blood spots on 44 HIV-infected persons presenting with cryptococcal meningitis. We quantified tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) and lamivudine (3TC) from dried blood spots. We quantified cumulative ART adherence over the preceding 6-8 weeks based on TFV-DP concentrations and adherence over the last few days based on 3TC concentrations. Of 22 ART experie

SUBMITTER: Lofgren SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8260886 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature